Method of inhibiting soil redeposition

Abstract

A method of inhibiting soil redeposition on fabric stained by one or more quaternary compounds by providing a sulfonated material in an effective amount to a wash liquor. The sulfonated material includes water-soluble sulfonated polymers. Generally, the sulfonated material is incorporated with a laundry detergent to provide a use level of about 30 ppm to about 300 ppm in the wash liquor.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of inhibiting redeposition of soil on fabrics during washing as a result of the presence of polyquaternary compounds on the fabric comprising: 
       a. forming a wash liquor by mixing a laundry detergent with wash water;  
       b. contacting a fabric containing one or more polyquaternary compounds and soil with the wash liquor; and,  
       c. providing an amount of a sulfonated material effective to prevent redeposition of the soil on the fabric in the presence of polyquaternary compounds, wherein the sulfonated material is selected from the group of sulfonated polymers, sulfonated copolymers, and mixtures thereof, wherein the degree of sulfonation is greater than 10%, and wherein the sulfonated material is present while the fabric is in contact with the wash liquor.  
     
     
       2. The method of claim  1  wherein the sulfonated material is present in an amount to provide from about 30 ppm to about 300 ppm in the wash liquor. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim  1  wherein the sulfonated material is mixed with the laundry detergent before the laundry detergent is added to the wash water. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim  1  wherein the sulfonated material is a copolymer of sulfonated styrene and maleic anhydride. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim  4  wherein the copolymer is a 1:1 copolymer of sulfonated styrene and maleic anhydride and wherein the styrene is fully sulfonated. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim  1  wherein the wash liquid contains from about 500 ppm to about 10,000 ppm laundry detergent. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim  1  wherein the sulfonated material is selected from the group consisting of sulfonated styrene polymers, sulfonated styrene copolymers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim  1  wherein the laundry detergent contains a surfactant that is primarily a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim  1  wherein the laundry detergent contains nonionic surfactants as the sole surfactant present in the laundry detergent.